The United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force has been active in protecting and helping people in troubled regions across the world. But what happens when those meant to protect turn out to be the exploiters? This is exactly what has been revealed in recent reports by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services.

A history of sexual exploitation:

This is not the first time such accusations have been made against UN peacekeeping forces. Allegations of sexual abuse have been haunting the organisation since the 90's when it was first revealed that peacekeepers were regular customers of brothels in Bosnia which were involved in a human trafficking racket and forcing women into prostitution.

Source: Haiti Quake Archive

According to a report in 2005, UN peacekeepers in Liberia were reported to have had sex with girls as young as 12 and abandoned orphans were offered gifts such as rations in return for sex. In addition to these many other cases of sexual abuse by peacekeepers have been reported.

There are 1,25,000 UN peacekeeping personnel posted at various locations globally. It is shocking to see those supposed to help and protect people getting involved in such exploitation. The supplies, which are the right of the people, are being denied to them and are used as means for sexual exploitation. The cases that have been reported are just a tip of the iceberg considering the fact that such cases are widely under-reported.

Source: Inter Press Service